Rafael Nadal, 36, admits he is “happy” to be a father as he is still adjusting to his new role in life. Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, became a father for the first time in October when his wife Mary Perello gave birth to a son.
After spending time with his wife and his newborn son, Nadal wrapped up his 2022 season at the Paris Masters and ATP Finals. After the ATP Finals, Nadal went to Latin America, where he is on an exhibition tour. “Having a child is something very recent, it’s something in life that you have to adapt to.
Beyond that, I’m happy, I’m enjoying the moment and everything else goes to the background,” Nadal said. Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer – the three greatest players in tennis history – have enjoyed very long and successful careers.
Federer, who turned 41 in August, retired from professional tennis at the end of September. Meanwhile, Nadal and Djokovic, 35, are still active. “I don’t know what may happen in the future, I don’t know the consequences that may have, time will tell.
There are several factors why we are playing longer at an advanced age. One is medicine and the professionalization of the entire sport, which means that people have a larger team, and there is more knowledge of the things that help lengthen careers.
And there’s another thing: I think Roger and Novak and I have pushed each other, and in a way it’s never been enough, we’ve always had to make another effort. The competition [between us] has brought us to extreme mental and tennis levels, and this is one of the main reasons why we have continued for so long,” Nadal explained.
It remains to be seen if Nadal will manage to win another Grand Slam in 2023.
Rafa won two Slams in 2022
From Mexico where he ended his tour of friendly matches on the American continent with a victory over Casper Ruud, Rafael Nadal gave his opinion on the famous debate of the GOAT, in which he is often opposed to his great rivals, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
“For me, personally, it’s something that doesn’t keep me awake because I think the three of us have surpassed anything we could have ever imagined achieving. With our results, we have taken the sport to a higher level and the debate over the identity of the champion is more a question of the media,” said the man with 22 Grand Slam titles in remarks reported by Eurosport Spain.
